The Hamburg Area School Board heard from administrators and a student during its Jan. 22 meeting about the benefits of a program that the district is piloting for language and literacy in its elementary schools.
Imagine Learning uses technology to teach language and literacy to students through engaging, interactive instruction.
Students can access content in a variety of ways – iPads, Chromebooks and computers – in or outside of school.
“Students read a story and then are presented with questions,” said Teresa Freiwald, chief learning officer. “It’s engaging and customizing, not a common term in education. Every student is getting something that is addressing their needs.”
One of those students, Rowyn Elliott, a second grader at Tilden Elementary Center, addressed the school directors.
“It’s fun. It helps us to learn and it helps with reading,” Elliott said. “There are different types of stories. You get whatever comes up. You can do it anywhere.”
The programs help the students with vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
“There are approximately 5,000 activities to use with the program,” Freiwald said. “Programs come in 15 different languages.”
The district has benefitted from the availability of different languages in the program.
Tilden has a kindergarten student from the Philippines, who did not speak English upon arriving in the country.
The child’s native language – Tagalog – was available on the program.
“His eyes lit up and he had a big smile on his face when he heard his native language,” said Lacie Cucciuffo, Tilden principal.
Besides engaging content and customized instruction, the program also provides ongoing assessments.
“This gives us data everyday,” Superintendent Dr. Richard Mextorf said. “It gives teachers daily feedback, real-time data. Most important, the child knows where the child is.”
In other news, the board voted to approve a budget resolution declaring that members will not increase taxes more than the tax index of 3.1 percent.
“This is the third year that this has been passed and it means that we will live within our means,” Business Manager Michele Zimmerman said.
In other news, in honor of School Director Recognition Month the school directors were presented with a certificate to recognize their service.
“This is the purest form of civic engagement, public service,” Mextorf said. “On behalf of the school district, thank you. I’m grateful everyday for you.”
The next meeting of school directors will be Monday, Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room.
